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Even as U.S. cancer rates decline, liver cancer rates remain on the rise, especially among Latinos.<\/p>\nEven as U.S. cancer rates decline, liver cancer rates remain on the rise, especially among Latinos.<\/p>\n
But why?<\/p>\n
A new study found that Latinos with liver cancer had much higher levels of aflatoxins than those without liver cancer. Aflatoxins are cancer-causing chemicals produced by mold that can contaminate improperly stored foods.<\/p>\n
People can ingest aflatoxins in contaminated corn, nuts, rice, sesame seeds, wheat and some spices.<\/p>\n
For the study, researchers gauged aflatoxin exposure in 42 liver cancer cases and 42 non-cases. Two-thirds of the pairs were Latinos.<\/p>\n
Liver cancer cases had six times higher odds of having detectable levels of aflatoxins in their blood, compared to non-cases.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis study means that Latinos have unique exposures that put them at higher risk for liver cancer,\u201d said study leader Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H. Dr. Ramirez is professor of epidemiology and biostatistics and head of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.<\/p>\n
The study, published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology<\/i>, is the first to link liver cancer with aflatoxin exposure among Latinos.<\/p>\n
Dr. Ramirez and her team previously found that Latinos in South Texas have the highest rate of liver cancer in the nation.<\/p>\n
Their 2014 study found that liver cancer incidence rates were 3.1 higher in men and four times higher in women than their non-Latino white counterparts. South Texas Latinos had even higher rates.<\/p>\n
Dr. Ramirez plans to continue examining the causes and potential solutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstanding the causes of increasing liver cancer in South Texas is critical. We must develop interventions and identify high-risk individuals who may be screened and treated with the best available care,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rates of liver cancer continue to be high for Latinos. Contaminated food may be to blame.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":10842,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[215,63],"tags":[116,77,211],"class_list":["post-10831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-springsummer-2017","category-university-in-motion","tag-cancer","tag-medicine","tag-research"],"yoast_head":"\n